Report your news to LEHIGHACRESCITIZEn.COM
Read The Citizen online The Lehigh Acres Citizen will take its next step into the world of digital journalism today by transitioning to a solely online newspaper. After serving the community for more than 26 years with a weekly print edition, today’s Citizen will be the last to appear in that format. While we will be among those who will miss holding a paper copy in hand, we recognize that readers are choosing more and more to get their news, even community news, on their phone or other digital device. Here’s what to expect: With the move to online, we plan to focus more on the “community” aspect of the information we provide. Yes, we will continue to include the “hard news” stories shared on The Citizen website under “News from around the region.” We still will continue to welcome and publish The Citizen’s popular contributed columns from organizations such as the Lehigh Acres Senior Center, the VFW and the American Legion. We will continue to welcome letters to the editor and guest commentaries about issues of interest to the community.
lehighacrescitizen.com
Week of Wednesday, July 27, 2022 ■ Page 4
OPINIONS
Editorial But we will focus more on what is happening in our community by asking for more submissions from clubs and organizations that would like to get their message out online and on Facebook via lehighacrescitizen.com. If you are active in the community with a civic or social club, volunteer with one of our community’s many schools or youth groups, take part in youth or adult athletics, we invite you to become part of what we hope will be an expansion of the news that matters most to you — the abundance of activities happening within our community, including where to go and what to enjoy. We remain committed to Lehigh Acres and we are thankful to all those who have read, and contributed, through the years. Despite our long-established online presence, it’s still a big step to move The Citizen wholly there. But it was a big step to start a paper 26 years ago based primarily on requests from the community. We heard you then and started a newspaper.
To submit a community contribution — club news, meeting or event notice, press release, business brief, sports report, letter to the editor and more — : email: News@breezenewspapers.com Online at lehighacrescitizen.com: ∫ Tap the three lines for the menu bar found at the upper left of the homepage near the magnifying glass. ∫ Click Contact ∫ Click Submit News Hopefully, we are hearing you now as we move online. We believe with your input, your contributions, lehighacrescitizen.com will remain your source for what is happening in our community. Ray Eckenrode, Publisher Valarie Harring, Executive editor
Lehigh Acres Citizen
What may present itself as Alzheimer’s may not be
Web Poll Previous Poll Question Should the federal government provide any form of student debt relief? ■ Yes, I support total student loan forgiveness, 12% ■ I agree with the proposal to forgive up to $50,000, 6% ■ Up to $10,000, 12% ■ No. This is voluntarily incurred debt and an obligation of the borrower. It’s that simple, 70%
Current Poll Question The Welcome to Lehigh Acres Sign is in need of repair. So this is an opportunity to consider updating the artwork by adding something completely new or just refreshing the existing artwork to repair damages and fix faded colors, etc. Would you like to see: ■ The existing design repaired. ■ New artwork design all together. ■ A totally new sign shape, color and artwork. Share your opinion at lehighacrescitizen.com
By DR. HAROLD E. JOHNSTONE JR. Dementia is a syndrome affecting memory, learning and making decisions that affect everyday life. The signs and symptoms of a dementia depend on what part of the brain is involved and will identify the particular disease causing the syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause of dementia counting for 50 percent to 70 percent of cases. There are many others, one being Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is an uncommon but not rare disease. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that nearly 700,000 adults have NPH, which is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s. However, it is much more treatable and sometimes even reversible if caught early. My story may help you do that. When the gerontologist neuropsychiatrist diagnosed me as having “late onset early Alzheimer’s disease” I was not surprised, but I knew that he was wrong. I was 86 years old and had been referred to the gerontology clinic at a local hospital after I flunked a driver awareness test. The very kind and empathetic occupational therapist who administered the test told me that the driving deficits I showed are usually seen in patients with dementia. I knew immediately that he was right. I had noticed that my decision making and memory were not up to par and I was having difficulty walking, needing two canes to provide stability. My balance was compromised and I had fallen several times. I did a little reading, specifically “Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias,” and discovered that I had “Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.” I noted that
Guest Commentary the Alzheimer’s Association five years ago estimated that less than 20 percent of people with NPH are properly diagnosed. NPH involves an increase in the fluid which fills the ventricles (pockets) in the brain and bathes the brain and spinal cord. The increased ventricular fluid causes pressure on the adjacent nerve cells (neurons). This causes them to malfunction and lose the ability to communicate with other neurons. It does not cause imminent death of the neurons as does Alzheimer’s but after a time, months or perhaps a few years, NPH will have the same result. The “normal” in NPH refers to the pressure where it is usually measured, the spine. The intake nurse practitioner for the clinic had interviewed me, my wife and daughter as a group a few weeks before my appointment with the doctor to provide the history of my illness and to order tests in advance of the appointment. She discussed the possible diagnoses with us. When I told her that I thought that I had NPH and wanted to place an order for that diagnosis she chuckled and said, “We do see that once in a while.” She, perhaps because I self diagnosed, included a brain MRI in her orders. The meeting with the neuropsychiatrist was not pleasant. After introducing himself to me, my wife and son, we listened to a monologue that went on in excess of 40 minutes. Some highlights were: “You have late onset early Alzheimer’s disease and there is nothing you can do about it. There are medications for it but
none will work. The one most prescribed is cheap and I’ll give you a prescription for it but it won’t work. The only thing that helps is a rigid daily exercise program and nobody does that and you won’t either,” and on and on. I finally interrupted and asked about NPH. He responded “No, you don’t have that” and then went over several other dementias that he said I didn’t have either, ending with “I’ve been doing this for 17 years and I know Alzheimer’s when I see it.” I then asked about the MRI exam which was scheduled for the next day. He responded, “It won’t show anything. You haven’t had Alzheimer’s long enough to show brain shrinkage, but you can do it if you want to.” The radiology report the next day told me: Ventricles are enlarged. Diagnosis; Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. So how might you discover that you may have this most treatable of all the dementias early enough to gain relief and perhaps reversal of your symptoms? Look for the three W’s: Wobbly, Wacky and Wet. ∫ Wobbly: In contrast to Alzheimer’s which generally starts with memory problems, NPH almost always starts with gait and balance problems, making one wobbly. My veterinarian daughter had pointed out that I was shuffling, taking small steps and not lifting my feet as I walked. She thought I might have Parkinson’s disease. I consulted an excellent neurologist who did a very thorough exam and See ALZHEIMER’S, page 21
We want your opinion The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Lehigh Acres Citizen, 2510 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904; faxed to 239-574-5693 or e-mailed to news@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: lehighacrescitizen.com.
